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New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4346, 23 February 1875, Page 2

In all probability the s.s. ‘Alhambra, which would leave Melbourne oa Wednesday the 17th instant, will arrive off Hokitika in the course of the day. It will give some idea of the steaming powers of tho now steamers of the Torres Strait mail line when we mention that the Brisbane, on entering Port Phillip on her first voyage, in the early part of tho present month, met the famous fast paddle-steamer Golden Crown, which was about to return to Hobson’s Bay from one of her holiday excursions. The Golden Crown lias beaten all tho steamers in Hobson’s Bay, and she prepared for a. race with the Brisbane. They steamed side by side up the West Channel, and towards Hobson’s Bay, but as they approached Saudridge the Brisbane drew ahead and won the race. The Brisbane made the run from Sydney to Hobson’s Bay in forty-five hours—one of the fastest passages on record. Judgment was yesterday given for the plaintiffs, in the case Levin v. Jackson and Graham, for recovery of the value of two bales of wool entrusted to the defendants for shipment to England. Costs to the extent of £5 were allowed. Mr. Gordon Allan was counsel for the plaintiffs. Upon the application of Mr. Bell, the order of his Worship to stay judgment in the case against Mr. Billing for allowing the wreck of the Paterson to obstruct the passage of the river Waitara, was rescinded, Mr. Bell showing that the necessary security was not lodged within the specified fourteen days. Sarah James, alias “Sal Slaiks,” was again before the Court yesterday for drunkenness, and was sentenced to three mouths’ imprisonment with hard labor, being a very old offender. Three cases of simple drunkenness were disposed of by the infliction of nominal fines. John Milner was charged with stealing a tomahawk, tho property of Edward Filer. Prisoner was remanded till Friday. A meeting of the directors of the Caledonian Society is called for Friday evening, at eight o’clock, to pass tin; accounts for the year.

■ Reports from Napier state; that Mr. and Mrs. Bates opened to a splendid house on Saturday evening. A girl named Stott was drowned in the river Buller, at Westport, on Saturday of last week, while she was looking for gold. The body has not been found.

New Sohth Wales has appointed a Commissioner—apparently to act in conjunction with Victoria—to look after the interests of the oldest colony of Australasia at the forthcoming centennial exhibition at Philadelphia. We observe from the Melbourne papers that Mr. Eairclough was about to play for a few nights at the Theatre Royal, appearing first in “Louis the Eleventh.” The Misses Duvalli were about to sail for America.

Letters were lying a fortnight ago, insufficiently stamped, in the post-office at Hoharton, addressed as follows :—Mr. C. Leach, Post Office, Christchurch, New Zealand ; Miss Syer, care of Mrs. Beuzerville, Briante, Wilson-street, Wanganui, New Zealand.

The Irish, World, a Roman Catholic and anti-English paper, published in New York, declares—and cites a mass of authentic statistics to prove—that “ eighteen million persons, the descendants of men who were Catholics on settling in America, have been lost to the Church in that country.” Mr. Vennell’s land sale was fairly attended yesterday, but there was an indisposition amongst those present to purchase. Two allotments only, Nos. 8 and 9, were disposed of at £6 10s. a foot, the remainder being withdrawn. Allotment No. 10 was privately purchased by Mr. Burne as a site for a school in connection with the Congregational body. Advantage will be taken of the present beautiful weather and the moonlight, for another pleasant marine excursion this evening. The Mauawatu has again been engaged for a moonlight sail about the harbor. She is splendidly adapted for the purpose, and on this occasion the excursionists will have the services of the Artillery band. We may suggest that a too early start is not desirable. The moon, of course, will be somewhat later in making her appearance over the hills than she was on the night of the Manawatu’s last excursion ; yet her gentle light is a great addition to the charm of such au excursion. A start, say at half-past seven, and a return to the wharf about half-past ten, would riot only satisfy but delight everybody among the excursionists.

A rather remarkable old woman, named Margaret McDonald, was charged before the Melbourne Bench, the other day, with being drunk and disorderly. She stated to the Bench that she had witnessed the Battle of Waterloo, and had been a close spectator of the final charge of the Guards. She was remanded, in order that steps might be taken to get her admitted to the Benevolent Asylum, of which institution she was not long since an inmate.

We learn by telegram from Beef ton, says the Grey Hirer Argus of the sth instant, that the whole of the iron piping to be worked on the syphon principle across Lankey’s Creek, in place of the old wooden fluming for the supply of water to the Wealth of Nations claim, has been most successfully fixed. The water was turned on for the first time on Saturday afternoon, and everything was found to work to the complete satisfaction of those in charge of the juine. Crushing operations were to be re-commenced on Sunday at midnight. The Melbourne correspondent of the Bendigo Advertiser —a leading goldfields’ journal of Victoria—reports the decision of the City Bench of Melbourne in the case of White, a prisoner released in New South Wales and apprehended in Victoria :—“ This morning, at the City Police Court, Mr. Sturt, P.M., gave his decision in the case of Dave White, who was arrested under the provisions of the Influx of Criminals Act. There was much interest taken in the case, owing to an impression which has prevailed that if White was not amenable to the law, neither was Sullivan, the New Zealand murderer. In giving his decision, Mr. Sturt said that though ou the first reading of the‘Act there might appear to be some. ambiguity in its .interpretation, it was clear to him that the eleventh section perfectly applied to the prisoner. He would, therefore, have to leave the colony within seven days, and find bail to guarantee his doing so. The bail was forthcoming, and White allowed to depart.”

Writing on the subject of the loss of the Cospatrick, the Melbourne Daily Telegraph remarks;—“ The startling speed with which'the ill-fated vessel was destroyed is attributable to the fact that there was gunpowder or some other explosive on board, and thus the shock of au explosion was added to the terrors of the scene. The Cospatrick was a Government emigrant ship, and the least a Government can do in future is to see that if; it crowds the top part of a vessel with living freight, it will make it a condition that no specially inflammable and dangerous cargo is carried below. To turn to another episode, it seems there was no cannibalism in the worst sense of the word; that is, flesh eating was not prefaced by life talcing. The telegrams mention that the survivors existed on the bodies of their comrades, but they expressly state that death had first taken place in the boats, and that murder was not committed for food. Even with this crime deducted, the experience of the Oospatriok’s boats has few rivals in history, The tale of wreck that that most haunts the memory is that of the raft.of the Medusa, and all the horrors, of that ghoul-like story—the suicides of the insane, the gnawing of the limbs of the dead by the living—are reproduced in the narrative of the'New-Zealand emigrant ship.” The Victorian journals contain the following item of Indian intelligence, - which seems to point to possible troubles in the-future : —An uneasy feeling is arising with reference to, the Mahratta princes and people. Soindiah and Holkar, for the first time in history, have recently hod a friendly meeting on an equal footing, in barges, at midday, on their boundary, Noir Nerbudday, - after which Soindiah visited Bothars State. This visit is to be returned. This circumstance, and a recent attempt to poison Colonel Phayer at Baroda, and the attempt to conciliate the British by arresting Nana, are taken as indications of some plot. This poisoning case is still under investigation. Guicowar and courtiers are said to be implicated. Mrs. Phayer’s ayah confesses to having been bribed.

Some interest may be taken here, where the insolvent Is well-known, in the following account given before his Honor Judge Noel, at Melbourne, by Thomas King, the theatrical manager and circus proprietor, of the causes which led to his bankruptcy:—“ The insolvent was at one time the. proprietor of the Asiatic Circus, but ceased to be so eighteen months ago, and sold a half-share in the business to Mr. Anderson, in order to pay liabilities in an action brought against him by Woolff and Lyster.' Insolvent’s books were stolen from Teakle’s store, in Sydney, he believed by the official assignee. In July last he sequestrated his estate in Sydney, but did not obtain a certificate. About six months after he parted with tire rest of his interest in the circus to John Borthwick, present proprietor, into whose hands the whole business subsequently fell. Insolvent was employed as manager of the circus at a salary of £5 per week, to fill the position until November next. The circus dime to Melbourne, all in it having been engaged by him or his business manager, Evans. Some time ago offers were made to buy the circus back from Borthwick for the insolvent, but the circus was not sold. There was a difficulty about the Japanese, who would not play for Borthwick, who wanted to ■ sell the circus to Burton. The Japanese would not play for Burton, and accordingly Borthwick tried to come to an arrangement with insolvent to induce them to do so. This was not done, and now no one had a right to the services of the Japanese but insolvent, to whom they were engaged from year to year indefinitely. The debt to Mr. Lyster insolvent did not consider a just one.—John Borthwick said that the negotiations with Burton fell through. The total amount of money advanced by him was £ISOO, for which he held the circus, &0., as security. The further hearing of the summons was adjourned for a. week, insolvent being ordered to file an amended schedule.”

The Auckland Star is responsible for the following:—A smart looking young woman, recently from England, obtained a situation a few, weeks ago in the house of a tradesman, a short distance from All Saints Church. On •the evening of the Ist instant, she left the kitchen for a short time in order to get a breath of fresh air, and being of a sentimental turn of mind, to watch the beautiful variations and gorgeous colors of a colonial sunset. While leaning against the garden gate, she was accosted by a young man, a Ponsonby brickmaker, who was passing. The words were simply “Good evening,” to -which she responded with a smile. On the following evening she was at the gate again, and, strange to say, the brickmaker again passed. The words “ Good evening” were used as on the previous evening, and a chat ensued. The meetings at the garden gate were repeated punctually eve after eve, at the promised time of eight o’clock, and yesterday a scene was witnessed in Pousonby which caused a little surprise—it -was a wedding scene. The modest brickmaker had taken the young English servant maid to the church, and placed the ring upon her finger. They were married after n courtship of eight evenings; may they never repent the precipitate step.